Digital Museum of Nigeria

Explore Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through artefacts, monuments, exhibitions, and the lives of visionary artists. Every item tells a story — of history, tradition, and innovation.

Why Explore the Digital Museum?

Discover the benefits of exploring Nigeria's cultural heritage digitally.

🏛️

Explore Heritage

Discover Nigeria's rich cultural heritage through artefacts, monuments, and artworks from across the nation

🎨

Meet Artists

Learn about visionary Nigerian artists and craftspeople who have shaped the nation's artistic identity

🌐

Virtual Tours

Take AI-guided tours and explore exhibitions from anywhere in the world

💾

Preserve Culture

Contribute to preserving Nigeria's cultural heritage for future generations

📚

Learn History

Understand Nigeria's history and traditions through curated artefacts and stories

🌍

Global Access

Access Nigeria's cultural treasures regardless of your location

Artefacts

Treasures of Nigeria — from Nok Terracotta to contemporary textiles that connect past to present.

500 BCE — Nok

Nok Terracotta Heads

Human and animal forms sculpted in terracotta, among West Africa’s oldest artistic expressions.

View Collection
Edo Kingdom

Benin Bronzes

Intricate plaques, busts, and reliefs chronicling royal court life and ceremony.

Explore Artefacts
Yoruba Regions

Festival Masks & Regalia

Carved masks adorned with beads and fabrics, brought to life in Egungun and Gelede festivals.

Discover Ritual Art
Textile Heritage

Adire & Aso-Oke

Pigment-dyed cloth and handwoven looms, capturing Yoruba patterns, stories, and symbolism.

View Textile Gallery
Northern Nigeria

Gidan Makama Reliefs

Decorative stucco reliefs and colourful murals that adorn Hausa royal architecture.

Explore Reliefs
Calabar

Ekpe Society Insignia

Décor, drums, and ceremonial objects of the Ekpe secret society, symbolising justice and order.

Learn More

Monuments

Landmarks that shape Nigeria — from sacred groves to UNESCO heritage cities.

Osun State

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

World Heritage

View Monument
Kano State

Kano City Walls

11th Century

View Monument
Adamawa

Sukur Cultural Landscape

UNESCO Listing

View Monument

Exhibitions

Curated journeys that weave together history, identity, and creativity from every corner of the nation.

Heritage · Archaeology

The Terracotta Legacy: From Nok to Now

Journey through 2,500 years of sculptural genius — from the Nok civilisation to contemporary reinterpretations.

Explore Exhibit
Repatriation · Storytelling

Voices of Bronze: The Benin Narrative

See the Benin Bronzes through indigenous storytelling, including diaspora-held artefacts and repatriation efforts.

Begin Tour
Textiles · Women in Art

Women of Adire: Indigo, Identity, Innovation

Celebrate the textile craftswomen whose indigo designs continue to inspire global fashion houses.

View Collection

Artists & Craftspeople

Meet the creators whose hands, hearts, and minds keep Nigeria’s artistic traditions alive.

Printmaking · Sculpture

Bruce Onobrakpeya

Pioneer of the Zaria Art Society, fusing modernism with Urhobo mythologies.

Onobrakpeya Etching Collection
Textiles · Cultural Entrepreneurship

Nike Davies-Okundaye

Founder of Nike Art Gallery; advocates for women-led indigenous textile preservation.

Adire Revival Workshop
Mixed Media · Installation

Victor Ehikhamenor

Global voice exploring memory, religion, and Benin lineage through multimedia.

In the Kingdom of This World Exhibit
Sculpture · Narrative Installations

Peju Alatise

Uses symbolism to interrogate girlhood, mythology, and the future of the nation.

Flying Girls Installation

Archives

Stories preserved for future generations — maps, letters, newspapers, and photographs digitised for open access.

  • Colonial-Era Lagos Harbour Map (1905) Cartography · University of Ibadan Repository
  • Audio Archive: Oral Histories of the Tiv (1960s) Spoken Word · National Archives Kaduna
  • Festival Photography: Argungu Fishing Festival Photography · Northern Heritage Library
  • Daily Times, October 1 1960 Newspaper · Independence Edition
Browse Digitised Archives

Interactive AI Curator

Discover connections you might miss. Our AI curator links artefacts, monuments, artists, and moments into guided journeys.

Guided Heritage Trail Tell the AI curator how long you have, and it will stitch a tour across periods and regions. “Show me artefacts that connect Northern Nigeria to the Niger Delta.”
Diaspora Map Interactive map tracing artefacts abroad, with repatriation status and partner contacts. “Which Benin Bronzes are scheduled for return in 2025?”
Artist Pairings Discover contemporary artists influenced by historical pieces in the collection. “Match a modern sculptor to Nok Terracotta aesthetics.”
Try the AI Curator

Join the Conversation

Comment, ask questions, or suggest new artefacts and exhibitions. Help us expand Nigeria’s digital heritage together.

Events & Residencies

Workshops, hackathons, and immersive residencies connecting heritage and innovation.

Jan 15 – Mar 30, 2026

Digital Residency: “Reclaiming Bronze”

Artists collaborate with Benin craftsmen to reimagine bronze casting using 3D printing assists.

Edo Creative Lab
Feb 22 – Feb 24, 2026

Heritage Hackathon

Develop open-source tools for cataloguing heritage sites at risk.

Lagos Innovates x NCMM
Mar 12, 2026

Osun Grove Soundwalk

Immersive audio tour capturing chants, drums, and oral histories from shrine custodians.

Sacred Arts Conservancy

Partners & Contributors

Co-curated with institutions, custodians, and creatives across Nigeria and the diaspora.

National Commission for Museums and Monuments

Heritage stewardship & data verification

Nike Art Gallery

Women-led textile preservation & workshops

Edo Museum of West African Art

Benin repatriation narratives & community co-curation

UNESCO Nigeria

Documentation standards & safeguarding at-risk sites

Digital Heritage Lab

3D scanning, VR experiences, and AI cataloguing

Digital Museum by Numbers

See the impact of our cultural heritage preservation platform.

1,247
Total Artefacts
12
Collections
48
Featured Artists
25
Virtual Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about the Digital Museum.

How do I explore the Digital Museum?

Browse artefacts, monuments, exhibitions, and artists using the navigation sections. You can also use the AI Curator for guided tours and personalized recommendations.

Can I contribute artefacts to the museum?

Yes! Use the "Contribute Artefact" button to submit information about Nigerian artefacts, monuments, or cultural items. All contributions are reviewed before being added to the collection.

What types of content are in the Digital Museum?

The museum includes: Ancient & Traditional Art (Nok terracotta, Benin bronzes, masks), Monuments & Heritage Sites, Modern & Contemporary Art, and Diaspora & Repatriation collections.

How do the AI tours work?

The AI Curator offers guided tours like Heritage Trails, Diaspora Maps, and Artist Pairings. Simply select a tour type and follow the AI-guided experience through curated content.

Are the images and content free to use?

All content includes attribution information. Please check individual item licenses and attribution requirements before using images or content for your own purposes.

Can I download high-resolution images?

Image availability varies by item. Check the attribution section for each artefact to see if high-resolution downloads are available and what license applies.

How often is new content added?

New artefacts, exhibitions, and artist profiles are added regularly as contributions are reviewed and approved. Featured exhibitions are updated quarterly.

Can I suggest corrections or additions?

Yes! Use the contribution form or contact us to suggest corrections, additional information, or new artefacts that should be included in the Digital Museum.

Are there physical locations I can visit?

The Digital Museum is primarily online, but many artefacts and monuments featured are located at physical sites across Nigeria. Check individual entries for location information.

How can I support the Digital Museum?

You can support by contributing content, sharing the museum with others, participating in events and residencies, or partnering with us to preserve Nigeria's cultural heritage.